Washing machine



B. S. MCGUTCHEN.

WASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5. 1920.

15,433,216, Patented Oct. 24, 1922.

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Appneatioii med october, s, 1920. serial No. 414,883.

To all 'whom 'it may conce-m.'

-, Be it known that I, BRUNsoN S. Mo

CUT izmir, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Plainfield, in the county of -Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification. i

The object of my invention is to provide a compact simple and efficient form of motor power operated washing machine designed to both wash and dry domestic launnotherHfn-rther object of ,my invention is to provide'f'means for alternatelyforcing vsoapy water through and draininglthe same from the clothes.

-A still further object of my invention is to provide a pump for circulating the soapy water, which can at will be converted into a motor for operating the drier.

Other and further objects will bein part described and in part apparent as the description is proceeded with.

` In the' accompanying part of this specification:

'Figure 1 is a side elevation of my mvention' Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional vievsT drawings forming Atakenon the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Fi ulre 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectiona view showing the relief valve closed and water being forced upwardly through the rotary clothes container;

Figure 4 is a view similar to 'Figure 3 showing the valve open and the water draining back through' the clothes 4container; and

' Figure 5 is a clothes container. l

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding .parts throughout the several views 5 designates a sheet metal watertight tub or `container adapted to conplan view of the rotary `tain a soapy water or other suitable washing iuid 6. lThis container, which is preferably cylindrical in "shape is formed with. an

intermediate constricted /portion 7 communicating with the .u per and lower enlarged portions or cham ers' 8 and 9 respectively, removable lid or cover 10.' The top wall l1 of the lower chamber 9 extends inwardly beyond the wall of the constricted portion 7 and is formed with a depending tubular thev former being provided with amember or passage 12, the lower end of which lterminates a short distance above the bottom wall 13 of the container 5, said bottom 13 also forming the bottom of the lower chamber 9.

Mounted in bearings 14 and 15 formed y respectively in the bottom 13 and the tubular member 12 is a vertical shaft 16 which carries a perforated clothes container or basket 17 arranged inthe constricted intervmediate portion 7 in spaced relation to the sides or walls thereof- The clothes container may be utilized as a drier when driven from a power unit 18, comprising a motor 19 and blower 20 mountedupon a at will. The blower 2O is connected through a pipe or the like 27 to a small air compartment 28 in turrn positioned at one end of the lower chamber 9. An elbow 29 places the top of the air compartment 28 in communication with the top of the lower chamber of the tub 5 for a purpose presently to be described.

Assuming that a washing fluid such as soapy water indicated as at 6 'has 'been poured into the tub 5 until the water rises to the level indicated by the words Low water in Figure 1, this level being determined by means of a sight glass 30. The clothes to be washedare then placed in the basket 17 and the covers 10 and 31; of the tub and basket respectively closed, due care being taken to see'that thfe centrifugal drier drive clutch 25 is-in inoperative position before starting the motor 19. It might here be noted that the chamber 9- is formed with a valve housing 32 having openings 33 and 53 in which are adapted to seat balanced valves 34 and 35 connected by links 36 and 37 to a walking beam 38 in' turn pivoted to a sugpport 39 on the valve housing. When the' chamber 9 has been filled the float 40 slidably mounted on a rod 41 pivotally connected to thevalve 34 is caused to rise until the ngers 42 on, the fioat engage and raise the valve 34 to closed positlon, it of course being obvious that the closing of the valve 34 automatically causes the valt-e135 to lower to closed position.v I f the motor 'is now started, rotation of the shaft,'l8'

which operates the blowerwill 'cause air to be forced from theblower into the air. com-` partment l28 and throu h the .elbow :29- to v the top of 'chamber 9. s the air is'forced into this chamber lthe displaced` water or washing fluid is `expelledf'up through the passage 12, and through the clothes in per-` forated container. or basket 17. At the completion of this part'of the cycle of operation, the water or washing {iuid lwill have risen until it reaches the level indcated by the High water markindicated on the sight glass 63 mounted on the'chamber or enlargement 8. At the Sametime the 4water level in chamber 9 will have fallen until it reaches its corresponding level also indicated as High water mark on slght glass 30, these klevels also being clearly y ing an escape for the air in the chambere 9 and permitting the washing fluid to surge back or down through the clothes` until it reaches its original or Figure 3 level. The

float at this time will have risento its Figure 3 position therebyclosing vthe valves,

land as the blowerv continues in operation during the interval between'lopening and q closing of the valves, the cycle i's repeated.

This surging of water backand `forth through the clothes results in a most thorough cleansing action without injury `to even the most delicate fabrics.

It will of course be understood that the relative sizes of the valves 34-35 and their respective seats or valve' openingsi33--53 are so .proportioned that they -will normally be maintalned in closed position by the air pressure withinthe container,g-but,will open when the weight 40 descends and enables'the inwardly opening larger valve 34 to over,- come the air tainer. y

When the clothes havefbeen thoroughly washed and assuming lthe water to have fallen to its original or Figure 3 level, the operator throws in the clutch 25 by 'means of the lever 26, and thereby causes the container or basket 17 to function as a centrifugal drier. During the drying operation the valves 34 and 35 are held open by means of a cam lever 44 pivoted to the walking beam 38 at a point slightly offset lfrom the pressure from within the conpointl of pivotal connection 45er the latter `Any-suitable means-(notl shown) vmay be employed for ldraining the tub.

While I have described my invention as being particularly adapted for ywashing to the' support 39, consequentlythesurgingv factionof-the-1 water, during this operatlon laundry, itis to be understood that the' same can with or without modification bey utilized forwashing dishes, in which event the cen- Y' trifugal basket or drier would be used `as a container for the dishes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Awashin machine comprising a cylindrical tub a apted to contain a washing fluid, said tub comprising u per and lower chambers and an interme iate restricted communicating chamber, a perforated clothes container in said restricted chamber, and means for causingthe washing fluid to intermittently'surge upwardly through and around said clothes container into said upperrchamber, whereby 'it falls by gravity downwardly through and around said clothes container into said'lower chamber.

2. A washing machine comprising a main container adapted to hold a washingfluid, said container comprising upper and lower termittently expelling water from said lower chamber upwardly through said basket i-nto said upperv chamber, whereb ber through saidbasket into said lower chamber.

3. A washing machine comprising a cylin- -drical -tub adapted to containv a washingfluid, said tub comprising upper and lower chambers Aand an intermediate restricted `upper chamberwhereby it fallsby gravity downwardl through said perforated basket and through said tubular passage into said lower chamber.

4. A washing' machine comprising a main Vcontainer adapted to hold a washing fluid, -said main container comprising upper and 'lower chambers and an intermediate communicating chamber, a foraminous basket rotatably mounted in said intermediate chamber means for intermittently forcing the washing fluid upwardly through said basket into said upper chamber, whereby it falls by gravity downwardly through said it falls byV gravity downwardly from sai upper .chamchambers and an intermediate chamber coinfi `mumcating therewith, a basket 1n said' 1nltermediate chamber, pneumatic means for 1n- Y basket into said lower chamber and means for rotating said basket.

5. A washingI machine comprising a main container adapted to hold a washing fluid, a conduit in said chamber terminating adjacent the bottom wall thereof, a basket in said main container, a blower andmotor' therefor, said blower communicating with the lower part of said container whereby when said blower is operated the washing in said intermediate chamber between said upper and lower chambers, a blower and motor therefor, said blower communicating with said lower chamber whereby when said bloweris operated the washing fluid in saidl lower chamber will be forced upwardly through said conduit and basket into said upper chamber, and automatic means for relieving the a1r l pressure in said lower chamber whereby the flow of said washing fluid is reversed.

7 A washing machine comprising a main container adapted to hold a washing fluid, and having an upperand lower chamber and an intermediate communicating chamber, a conduit in said lower chamber terminating adjacent the bottom wall thereof, a basket in said lintermediate chamber between said upper and lower chambers, a blower and motor therefor, said blower-communieating with said lower chamber whereby Huid in said lower chamber will be forced upwardly through saidvconduit and basket into said upper chamber, and automatic'` means for relievin the air pressure-in said lower .chamber wereby the fiow'jof said washing fluid is reversed, and means for rotating said basket.

8. A washing machine comprising a main container adapted to hold a washing fluid, and having an upper and lower chamber and an intermediate chamber, a conduit in said lower chamber terminating. adjacentthe bottom wall thereof, a basket in said intermediate chamber between said upper and lower chambers, for, said blower communicating with said lower chamber whereby when said blower gv the washin through vsaid a blower andy motorthereis operated the Washing fluid in said lower chamber will be forced upwardly through Said conduit and basket into said upper chamber, and a valve housing on said lower chamber having openings therein, balanced valves adapted to seat in .said openings in normally closedv position, and a float valve adapted to open said valves to relieve the air pressure in said lower chamber and cause a reversal of the flow of said washing fluid.

9. A washing machine' comprising a main container adapted to hold a washing fluid, a clothes container in said first mentioned container, pneumatic means communicating with said main container for forcing the washing fluid by pneumatic pressure upwardly through said clothes container and means for relieving said pressure whereby the washing fluid will drain back down through said clothes.

10. A washing machine comprising a main container adapted to hld a washing fluid, a clothes container in said .first mentioned container, pneumatic means communicating with said main container for forcing the washing fluid bypneumatic pressure upwardly throughsaid clothes container, a valve in said main container, means for opening said valve for relieving said pressure whereby the washing fluidi will drain back down through said clothes container and means for locking said valve in open position. i

11. A washing machine comprising a maincontainer adapted to hold a washing fluid, aclothes container in said first mentioned container, pneumatic means communieating with said main container for forcing the washing fluid by pneumatic pressure upwardly through said clothes contamier, a valve in said main container, and automatic meansfor opening said valve and relieving said neumatic pressure whereby ffhidwill drain back down clothes container.

12. A washing machine comprising a main container adapted to hold a washing fluid, a clothes container in said first mentioned container, pneumatic means communicating with said main container for forcing the washing fluid by pneumatic pressure upwardly through said clothes containmeans for rotating said clothes container. .120

In testimon whereof ll axm si ature..` BR NSON S. Mc@ TC EN. 

